[TH Spangler]

Reminds me of this http://www.wnd.com/2009/03/92639/

Tim Tebow where are you when we need you?

[TallyW]

Close.. except Obama didn't spend his entire life trying to convert Catholics away from their faith... he also didn't drop millions of dollars toward that end.

Catholics were upset about policies they PERCEIVE to be anti-Catholic. Many evangelicals are upset that Romney is explicitly (as a Mormon) anti-evangelical.

If we really believe in heaven and hell... and we really believe God has called us to give an accurate representation of Jesus Christ, I'm not sure why this is even a discussion at Liberty.

Apparently our leadership actually cares less about these principles than being supportive of the Republican party.

Obama is a professed Christian. Liberty hates him.
Romney is a professed Mormon church leader. Liberty invites him to speak.

Yeah... we look really Christian.

BTW... CNN won't be covering our baccalaureate. Lets quit acting like they're equal.

[jcmanson]

Just went back and looked at this thread - http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... ck#p307776 and noticed Tally had nothing to say about Glenn Beck speaking. Just wondering if Romney is a "better" Mormom? Is it only because he's running for President?

[jcmanson]

Yeah... we look really Christian.

Where was anyone ever called to "look really Christian?"

[jcmanson]

Obama is a professed Christian. Liberty hates him.
Romney is a professed Mormon church leader. Liberty invites him to speak.

We've also invited Obama to speak as well, but been rejected

[LUconn]

We are being used not only by a campaign... but by an opposing faith... that's what is being missed here.

It's not being missed. Just disagreed with.

[jcmanson]

I said this 2 years ago:

You guys complain every year.

And now comes the reply of "but this year I'm complaining about ..."

[ATrain]

Isn't Ben Stein a Jew? He's spoken at graduation, what's the difference between him and having Mitt Romney speak?

[BJWilliams]

with all this hullabaloo about Romney, whats being missed is that we get to hear from one of the great evangelists of our time as well. Im looking forward to hear what Luis Palau has to say and what Governor Romney has to say. I dont agree with him 100% politically and I certainly dont agree with him religiously, but I read about Glenn Beck being a Mormon and that concerned me but I was there at Commencement and really enjoyed his message, and he didnt spend it trying to convert people either. If Im not mistaken he readily acknowledged the diametric opposition that was there. I will be at Commencement and will listen respectfully to what he has to say. Im more worried at this point at whether or not people actually will walk out or find some other way to publicly tune him out as that I think would be a greater harm to the university than the fact that we invited him to come here for graduation.

[TallyW]

Those of you who use the Glenn Beck line have seriously over-estimated Glenn Beck or seriously devalue Governor Romney. Comparing the two is hardly worth discussing. The LDS will never springboard by having a divisive conservative commentator with perceived radical theories... they will certainly however utilize the "First Mormon President" to demonstrate how society (and especially Christianity) is now welcoming of their faith. Beck wasn't running for President... and he wasn't coming to LU explicitly for LU to take cover his Mormon issue. The ramifications here aren't remotely comparable to Beck speaking. Not even close.

As for the call to 'look Christian'. Clever cut and paste. My use of 'look Christian' is about our stand for what we say we actually believe. When we say we place Christ above all and He rules our entire lives... but then we vote for a man who has spent his entire life denying our Lord and convincing others to do the same... we have to honestly ask if we're following Christ or politics. Every voter will have to ask that question. To not see how the LDS would use a Romney presidency to continue the spread of their cult is the height of ignorance.

I'm aware that we invited Obama. But our leaders have publicly railed against him as well. I'm not a fan of Obama... but I think it's dangerous ground when a "Christian" school sides with a Mormon over a Christian. We're not much of a Christian school if small government and free markets are held in the same regard as the deity of Jesus Christ. Sounds a lot like the Mormons when they say "Sure the bible is God's word.... but so is the D&C and the Book of Mormon." When you add in other factors as equivalents, you diminish the primary factor to secondary status. We cannot elevate other political interests or even institutional interests above the interest of speaking truthfully to the world about who Jesus is. This man has spent his life denying Jesus Christ as the one true God. Some of you are so excited to get rid of Obama that you're not giving long-term consideration to what you are openly promoting... the continued decline of evangelical Christianity and the continued climb of Mormonism as a normal Christian denomination.

[TallyW]

ATrain... Are you unaware of the uniqueness of their theological positions?

Also, when has Ben Stein come here while running for president specifically because his Jewish faith was keeping him from the evangelical vote?

[TallyW]

BJ,
It's not just about how warm and fuzzy you'll feel after the speech. I'm not concerned that anyone will become Mormon at Commencement. It's all about optics. We are essentially allowing LU to be used for the narrative that "Evangelicals should ignore the fact that Romney is a Mormon who has spent his life deceiving our children into following a false god and just vote for him because he's better than Obama."

It's not about simply having a Mormon on campus. As pointed out, I didn't throw a fit about Glenn Beck. (BTW: How can "We screwed up before." be the argument so many seem to be defaulting to?) That's a ridiculously weak argument.

This is about allowing our campus, school, history, values... to be used as a political backdrop to promote a cult leader who in turn will leverage his prominance to promote the Mormon church. The Mormons are being very quiet.. why? They know the problem is evangelical acceptance... they want us to roll over so they can grow their church rolls... apparently many on this board at least are ready and willing to comply. "No big deal Jesus... we had an election to win."

[Purple Haize]

It's no leap in logic at all... He is coming to Liberty because he needs to get Evangelicals comfortable with the idea of Mormonism, period.

This statement is amazingly obtuse. He is coming here because he DOES need the Evangelical vote. Evangelicals, and the rest of America, need to be comfortable with him for him to win. I see no logic behind the statement that evangelicals must be comfortable with Mormonism. One does not make the other. He is running for Presdident. He is immensely qualified. He happens to be Mormon. If he was advocating making Mormonism the State religion, or re codifying the Constitution to fit the teachings of the LDS or reclaiming Nevada and Colorado for the LDS church and renaming the area Deseret while moving the US Capitol to Provo, then your point would be valid.
This argument reminds me of the old Buy Christian slogans of the 80's. 'Yes, we only buy milk from a Christian cow". Also, this can now become an OUTSTANDING opportunity for those that will to draw a line of distinction between LDS and Christian denominations. But instead all I see or hear are people wringing their hands that their little snow flakes are going to be exposed to a successful Mormon. <gasp>. Some people hear only what they want to hear and only know what they hear.

[bigsmooth]

[Purple Haize]

....and I might add that calling yourself a Christian, as President Obama does, does not mean you ARE a Christian

[jcmanson]

Mitt Romney coming to speak at Liberty’s commencement will drastically alter the course of American History

[TH Spangler]

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints was the BYU 2011 Commencement speaker and presiding authority at the Brigham Young University April 2011 Commencement ceremonies.

I wonder if BYU would be confident enough to invite a "practicing Christian" Presidential nominee to be the speaker at their Commencement ceremony?

I suspect their elders would feel threatened by the "Truths of Jesus Christ" being on their campus. Are they afraid of something? Will there distorted faith not hold up in an open, free environment? They are a very secretive bunch at the top?

Maybe this event will cause people to take a closer look at what Mormons believe about Christ and compare it to the truths of Jesus Christ. A closer look "should" diffidently draw Protestant and Catholics closer.

It will be interesting to see who BYU invites this year?

[Rooster Cogburn]

This discussion is getting old. I guarantee it will be a not story by the time he comes like the Driskill one. I can't believe people are this upset about a Commencement speaker. Luis Pilau will be awesome and Romney will be a hit as well.

[BJWilliams]

I concur with Rooster...but as I said before, I think that if students walk out on his speech or perform some other form of public protest, it would do more harm to the university (and possibly evangelical Christianity in general) than the fact that we are inviting Governor Romney to speak.

[logic]

Well stated Chancellor

The ultimate purpose of having a prominent Commencement speaker is to showcase Liberty and its mission.

My prayer is that having the presumptive Republican nominee as our speaker will cause many who have never heard of Liberty to take notice of what Liberty is doing

I think I said something like this earlier in the thread

I've been saying this all along as well. You guys objecting to this are delusional.

UNDERSTAND: EVERY SINGLE NEWS MEDIA OUTLET IN THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE CAMERAS HERE.

UNDERSTAND: THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS OUT THERE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIBERTY IS.


How can you guys not see how good this is for our university?

[NotAJerry]

It's no leap in logic at all... He is coming to Liberty because he needs to get Evangelicals comfortable with the idea of Mormonism, period.

Exactly. The sad part is Liberty continuing it's history of selling itself to one specific part of the GOP that is more about America, and less about Christianity, than the rest.

[NotAJerry]

Well stated Chancellor

The ultimate purpose of having a prominent Commencement speaker is to showcase Liberty and its mission.

My prayer is that having the presumptive Republican nominee as our speaker will cause many who have never heard of Liberty to take notice of what Liberty is doing

I think I said something like this earlier in the thread

I've been saying this all along as well. You guys objecting to this are delusional.

UNDERSTAND: EVERY SINGLE NEWS MEDIA OUTLET IN THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE CAMERAS HERE.

UNDERSTAND: THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS OUT THERE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIBERTY IS.


How can you guys not see how good this is for our university?

Because he's a despicable politician who supports nearly every unconstitutional view of our day and he's a cult member. It's a matter of fidelity vs. popularity. Jesus had quite a bit to say about that.

[NotAJerry]

http://www.albertmohler.com/media/audio ... iefing.mp3

Al Mohler obliterates the idea of Mormonism as Christianity and calls it like it is about Joel Osteen claiming Mormons are Christians. If Liberty had leadership with this kind of discernment, there wouldn't be the blatant lying and attempts at silencing those who are discerningly opposing this purely political move.

[TallyW]

I've been saying this all along as well. You guys objecting to this are delusional.

UNDERSTAND: EVERY SINGLE NEWS MEDIA OUTLET IN THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE CAMERAS HERE.

UNDERSTAND: THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS OUT THERE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIBERTY IS.

How can you guys not see how good this is for our university?

What are we showcasing? The fact that if you're a cult leader running for President we'll gladly compromise our religious convictions for the sake of politics? Yeah, lets broadcast that loud and clear.

The seriousness with which we pursue Christ and honor him above all else should trump having TV cameras on campus and electing a guy with an "R" next to his name.

Getting comfortable with bringing Mormons in to address our largest assembly of the year isn't exactly being "distinctively Christian".

[LUconn]

UNDERSTAND: EVERY SINGLE NEWS MEDIA OUTLET IN THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE CAMERAS HERE.

UNDERSTAND: THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS OUT THERE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LIBERTY IS.

That's a horrible reason to contradict your basic beliefs as some feel this is doing. Luckily, that's not what they're doing.